2016 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 86,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am filing this complaint regarding a safety-related engine problem with my 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. My vehicle is currently experiencing excessive crankcase pressure associated with the PCV system. The vehicle requires PCV service, and I have been advised that the excessive crankcase pressure has contributed to multiple engine oil…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Timing chain guide broke and caused catastropic engine failure while driving 70 miles an hour on the highway causing steering, brakes etc to lock up putting me and my family at risk of accident and great bodily harm. Vehicle is available for inspection. No prior knowledge of mechanic problems due to only having purchased the vehicle from…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Wipers just stopped working on the highway in a very bad rain storm, when I was taking my daughter to school. We could not see and had to put our hazards on and somehow carefully pull off to the side of the road. We could have easily been rear ended or worse “Killed”. There was no warning given. This was very scary for me and my child.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

While driving with windshield wipers on, they suddenly stopped working. The wipers were stuck in position in the center of my windshield. Upon inspection, it appeared that one of the arms had become disconnected from the piece it was connected to. Snapped right off during unsafe driving conditions.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 61,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

My equinox has only 70,000 miles and they found ground bearings in the transfer case and it cost me $2000 to fix they said this was an unusual repair to report itOwner complaint, filed 2024

Engine lost power while exiting highway. Engine noise and loss of oil and oil pressure. Glided car into repair shop off the highway exit. Repair facility was aware of the GM 2.4 liter frozen PCV valve issue. Car was taken to a Chevrolet dealership where a fix with no guarantee that the engine was good was over $3000.00 to repair.…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 - 70 MPH, the display went blank approximately every five minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the battery was disconnected and the wiring and cables were inspected. The mechanic stated that the issue presented a…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 89,000 miles

Snowy conditions. All of the traction control, stabilitrak, and abs systems are working normally. Sometimes when i accelerate and the wheels start to spin the whole infotainment console turns off. Its almost like the battery is dead for a few seconds then everything turns back on.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 113,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have completed extensive research on my 2016 chevy equinox and it is my understanding this model has ongoing issues with the high pressure fuel pump. However only the newer models have been recalled for the same exact issue. I need to report the same issue with the 2016 models as well. I have never had any major issues with this…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Steady oil leak that continues when the vehicle is parked. Pools of oil form underneath the vehicle when it is stationary. Oil may also be leaking while in motion. Mechanic thinks that it is the rear main seal. The leak was first addressed at 51,000 miles, without success.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 51,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

02/19/2022 while driving down steep dirt road close to where we live the brake peddle suddenly went to the floor. We rapidly drove down this steep incline without any breaks the car bounced vilolantly untill we got to the bottom at that point the brake peddle resumed normal operation. Drove stright home without a repeat of no brakes.…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Backing down a steep driveway with my foot on the brake working fine the first several seconds then the brake pedal went down to the floor and car rolled across a busy street jumping the curb and hitting a telephone pole and fence. No person or vehicle nor my vehicle was hit fortunately. A police report was filed. The rental company…Owner complaint, filed 2017

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The warning light remained illuminated constantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the weight sensor on the front passenger’s seat had failed and needed…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that his vehicle had been involved in two accidents and that the airbags failed to deploy as needed in both accidents. In the first accident, the contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed, a tree had fallen right in front of his vehicle. The contact was not able…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 1,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 chevrolet equinox. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal became stuck to the floorboard and the vehicle [VIN] to 80 MPH without warning. The contact placed the gear shifter into neutral and depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued to accelerate at 80 MPH. The failure recurred…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 14,000 miles

Unintended acceleration!! While driving on the freeway at 70 MPH without the cruise the vehicle suddenly was under full acceleration. My wife immediately asked "what is happening". My first reaction was to apply the brake which caused the acceleration to cease. I then called onstar to report the problem and they responded that my tire…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 875 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

My son was driving when the steering "locked" into one position which caused him to leave the interstate, cross the median, across oncoming traffic and roll the vehicle three times. He suffered a lower back injury and his passenger only encountered minor cuts. We were not aware of any issues at the time. We did not have the vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently lost power steering functionality, making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The failure persisted and became a complete failure. The contact stated that the “Service Power Steering” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 94,688 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (6).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The roof of my 2016 chevrolet equinox the clear coat has started to bubble and lift in blotches. This car is the titanium color (dark grey metallic) I've taken very good care of my car. This is my first gm vehicle that I've ever purchased new. My car is under cover in a car port. The VIN# indicates it was built in canada. I believe gm is…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 30,000 miles

Clear coat on vehicles top is peeling. My chevy has been taken care of very well. I believe that, this vehicle was built in canada and that factory cut corners on appling the correct amount of clear coating to the primary color.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 31,800 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Tire pressure sensor system repaired two years ago. Car has just crossed over 16k miles, so it is used very little. Tire pressure sensors keep going. Interestingly, my neighbor has just bought the same year vehicle and she has the same exact problem. This needs to be recalled immediatelyOwner complaint, filed 2025

I have lived on sheads mountain rd for 3 years now. In that 3 years we have had 9 flat tires and all of them have had rocks in them and most of them we have had to get new tires because this road is so bad and they could not plug or patch them.my husband works for escavating company for 28 years and isince we have lived here they have…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 13,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Purchased vehicle certified pre owned May 2019 with 56,000 miles. In June 2019 replaced front tire that were new due to passenger tire wear also New battery and oil change..Jan 2020 had to have front main seal oil ring replaced. Oil changes done every 3 to 7 thousand miles. Have a 2 sets of tires put on .Have had some hesitation problems…Owner complaint, filed 2022

I hit a hole and my passenger front tire and rim were damaged and I could not move car, had car towed. The dealership claimed the only damage was to the wheel, rim and needed an alignment. Two days later front drivers side making a loud noise, shaking when driving and noticed it was leaking a fluid. Returned to dealership, resubmitted to…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 29,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The drivers' side front seatbelt will not retract back into the b pillar when taken off. It will get caught in the door when closing it and prevent the driver's door from closing. The transmission slips out of gear when decelerating and accelerating in traffic. This causes the transmission to slam back into gear.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Was in a small accident the air bags never deployed but the seat belts locked saying that I needed to service my air bag system. As I did. The seat belts are no longer locked but the light is still on and the car is telling me to servic we the airbag systemOwner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

2016 chevrolet equinox. Consumer writes in regards to forward collision alert system warning display failure to illuminate/ detect when following too close to front vehicle. *smd the consumer stated the tailgate alert allowed him to get within less than two car lengths before the visual warning appeared. The dealer stated the system was…Owner complaint, filed 2016

This car used so much oil that I had to put it in constantly. Eventually the time belt broke, and the car stopped because it literally had no oil in it causing the engine to blow. This is a known problem I found out later on.Owner complaint, filed 2025